Budget Deal Nears At The Capitol

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Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio

Governor Jerry Brown, Senate Leader Darrell Steinberg and Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins appear to be in the final stages of negotiations ahead of the legislature's June 15th constitutional budget deadline.

There’s no agreement yet, but if and when it comes, it’s expected to be along the same lines as last year’s budget deal: Democratic lawmakers will get many of their priorities funded, but the governor will get to use his more cautious revenue projections.

“We do feel pretty optimistic right now that we’re gonna be able to land the plane in a way that I think really the Assembly’s gonna be pleased, the Senate, and the governor’s gonna be okay.” Atkins told reporters at the Capitol Monday.

“We’re gonna make some good, solid investments in kids, and in infrastructure, and in some other key areas,” Steinberg said.

Senate Budget Chair Mark Leno says the spending plan will set aside three percent of general fund revenues into a “rainy day” account. That’s twice as much as what’s called for in the constitutional amendment that the governor and lawmakers agreed to last month.

Programs expected to get more money in the budget deal include early childhood education, child care, affordable housing and the UC and CSU systems.

Capitol Bureau Chief Ben Adler first became a public radio listener in the car on his way to preschool – though not necessarily by choice. Now, he leads Capital Public Radio’s state Capitol coverage, which airs on NPR stations across California. Read Full Bio